Bottle carrier



Oct. 26, 1954 s. LIGHTER 2,692,701

BOTTLE! CARRIER Filed Oct. 29, 1951 Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY U m W mH m u k v m W m O t in n m ,04 W s M \T Q\ m I.--

R\ E m Oct. 26, 1954 s, UGHTER 2,692,701

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Oct. 29, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 47 STEPHEN LIGHTER ATTORNEY S. LIGHTER BOTTLE CARRIER Oct. 26, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 29, 1951 FIG. 5

INVENTOR STEPHEN LIGHTER BY MARWW ATTORNEY S. LIGHTER BOTTLE CARRIER Oct. 26, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG'.8.

FIG'. 7.

Filed Oct. 29, 1951 INVENT OR IGHTER STEPHEN 1.

ATTORNEY Oct. 26, 1954 s. LIGHTER I 2,692,701

' BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Oct. 29, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGRIO.

4."mnlllllllllllmmn INVENTOR STEPHEN Us TER ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 26, 1954 UNI :AT-ETNT OFFICE .BOTTLE CARRIER step'hen lzighter, Milwaukee, Wis. Application o'er-deems), 19'51,Jseria1 No. 253,630

(01. sec-1'13) 6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to ybo'ttle carriers and -more particularlytoa paperboard container for the transportation "of bottled goods suoh'as soft drinks andthe'li-ke;

t is the practice in the retail "Sale of soft drinks, beer, and other beverages to provide the vendee with a container for carrying 'his p'urchases to his home. The *niargin 'of profitis so small in thecase of mostbottled beverages that the container provided must be of vory inexpensive construction, particularlysinc'e psychological factors prohibit the use of anything but *a-nonreturnable container. I he fact that thecostmus't be low militates against the use of a-ny material but paperboard. Even then, the quality of the paperboard and the "quantity thereof is -dete'rmined 'by the value of the bottled article, expensive bottled*gocds suchasmedicines, 'forinstano'e, permititng the use of larger "amounts of paperboard of high quality because "of the higher profit margin. In view of the above desoribed situation, many paperboard bottle carriers have been developed, with varying degrees of-success. Because i of the low iallow able cost of the bottle carrier, certain compromises must "be made with the most r desirable iquantityiand quality of paperboa-rd used in the construction. Beca'use'ofthe'se limitations, oonsiderableingenuity has heen used in the past in designing :carriers having "a "satisfactory strength and yet which use very little material. Most-of these carriers of the iprior a'rt are deficient in one respect or "another. For instance, the most popular =constructions are made from a single blank and usually have a center panel and an outer wall with dividersextending therebetween; when the divider are formed from the outer wall, the outer wall is limited in' vertical height, whichmeans that carriers of this type cannot be stacked one on top 01": the other. 0n the other hand, when the carrier 'is madewith the dividers formed from th center panel, the center panel cannot be connected with the remainder of the container-in a'manner togivesufficient strength. In all prior art carriers the dividers, whether :formed from the centerpanel or fromthe outer wall, are of'llmitcd vertio'al extent and thus permit adjacent bottles to touch one another which is an objectionable teature because of the scratching and breaking which'results therefrom. Manypreviously used constructions have only one thickness of paperboard iunder the bottle or do not otherwise provide for cushioning thereunder and this causes breakage during use, but most {particularly during loading whentheb'ottles are drop ea'mtothe oarrier from a considerable distance by the loading machine.

The present device obviates the above-recited difficultie's in amanner that will be evident from the description which follows.

Itis accordingly an outstanding object of the present invention to provide a paperboard bottle carrierwhich'perniits'of an outer wall of any desiredver'tical extent.

Another object ofthis invention is to provide a paperboard' bottle carrier which is of a construction wherein the center panel remains strong even though "dividers are'formed integral therewith.

Astillfurther object of the instant invention is the provision of a bottle carrier which provides each bottle held therein with Walls on four sides and which prevents adjacent bottles from touchmg.

Still another object of the invention isthe provision of a bottle carrier having an unusually strong and resilient 'inulti-ply' bottom construction.

Another obj ect of this invention is the provision of a "bottle carrier which can be formed from a single blank, which can be constructed on automaticmachinery; whichioldsfiat'when assembled but can be promptly "expanded to operative condition, andwhiclriseconomical in'the quality and quantity of paperbba'rdrequired in its fabrication.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent-to those skilled'in the art, the invention resides inthecombinationof parts set forth in the specifications andcovered-by the claims appended hereto.

"The character of the invention, however, may

bebe'st understoodby reference to certain of its structural-forms, as illustrated by the-accompanying drawings inwhich:

1 is-a viewof-a blank from which. the bottie carr-ier of the invention may be constructed;

FigJZ is a *view-o'f theinventionin the process of assembly;

Fig. 3 is avi'ew *of the device of the invention at a later pointin theassembly;

Fig, 4 ie a pla n View of the completed bottle oarrierot the invention;

Fig. 5 is a -s'e'ctior'ial View of the device of the invention taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 :is a-sectiona1 view of the invention ta-ken on thelin'e 35 b of Fi-g. i

Fig. '7 is :a viewof the invention in collapsed condition;

Fig. '8 is a sperspectiveview or the invention at an intermediate point in the process of expanding it t o operative condition Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the carrier of the invention in completely expanded condition; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the invention with portions broken away to show the details of construction.

Like reference characters denote similar parts in the several figures of the drawings.

A complete understanding of the present invention may best be conveyed by a description of the blank from which it is formed. Referring, then, to Fig. l, the blank, generally designated Iii, is formed in one piece from paperboard or similar material by any of the methods well known in the art. The blank Iii comprises a lower bottom panel l I of generally elongated rectangular shape, the width being somewhat greater than twice the diameter of the type of bottle with which the carrier is to be used and the length being somewhat greater than three times the diameter of such a bottle. The blank 19 further comprises an upper bottom panel 52 of the same size and shape as panel H and situated end to end therewith and being defined therefrom by a cut l3 extending entirely across the common end of the two panels. Extending longitudinally of the panel 9 i is a score line l4 and the panel 12 is provided with a similar score line I5; the two score lines are aligned with one another and constitute an axis of symmetry for th entire blank. Since the halves of the blank which reside on opposite sides of the score lines l4 and i5 are mirror images of one another, only one of these halves will be described, it being assumed that the other half is exactly similar.

The blank further comprises a side panel I5 hingedly attached to the bottom panel H and defined therefrom by score line H. The side panel is of generally square shape and is coextensive with the panel H. An end panel 88 is hingedly attached to the side panel i5 and is defined therefrom by a score line 19. The end panel i8 is co-extensive with the side panel it along a side adjacent to the score line I! and is of a Width approximately half the Width of the bottom panel II.

The blank further comprises a center panel 23 which is hingedly attached to the end panel it on the side edge thereof opposite the panel it and is defined from the panel [B by a score line 2 I. The center panel 29 is of approximately the same shape as the panel 53 and is co-extensive with the end panel l8 it is further provided with a handle aperture 22 situated adjacent one edge, as shown. The blank further comprises a divider panel 23 which is hingedly attached to panel I6 and to panel l2. The divider panel 23 is defined from panel It by a score line 24 and is co-extensive with said panel. The panel 23 is defined from the panel 12 by a score line 25 which score line is mterrupted by two cuts 23 and 21 whose purpose will be described more fully hereinafter. The panel is co-extensive with the panel 12 and extends therebeyond a slight amount.

It can be seen, then, that the panels 23, l6, l8 and 29 form an elongated rectangle whose width will ultimately constitute the height of the completed carrier; this dimension will usually be selected as slightly greater than the height of a bottle.

The upper bottom panel i2 is provided along each side with cuts and scores of the following description: three cuts 28, 29 and 39 originate at the score line 25 and extend diagonally across the panel toward the cut l3. Three score lines 3!, 32 and 33 originate in the score line 25 and extend diagonally across the panel in a direction 4 away from the cut [3. Each cut extends to a point where it meets a score line, at which point the score line also terminates, the angle of meeting being about a right angle and the length of all cuts and score lines being equal. The cuts 26 and 21 on the score line 25 start at the intersection of cut 29 and score line 3| and at the intersection of cut 30 and score line 32, respectively, and extend a short distance along the score line 25 in a direction away from the panel IE.

The divider panel 23 is provided with cuts and scores defining dividers for the carrier. A score line 34 extends across the panel 23 from the score line 25 in a line with the end of the panel 12 which is opposite the panel I I. The score line 34 terminates a little more than half way across the panel at which termination it is met by a cut 35 which extends at an acute angle to the score line 25. The cut 35 terminates at its intersection with a cut 36 running parallel to the score line 25. The cut 36 intersects and terminates at a score line 31 which extends parallel to the score line 24 from the cut 36 to the edge of the panel 23 opposite the score line 25. The score line 31 is parallel to the score line 24 and resides at a distance therefrom approximately equal to the width of the end panel I8.

A cut 38 extends across the panel 23 from the end of the cut 21 which is away from the point of intersection of the cut 30 and the score line 32; the cut 38 lies parallel to the score line 24 and terminates in its intersection with an angular cut 39. The cut 39 extends in the direction of the score line 24 until it meets and is terminated at a score line 40. The score line 43 is aligned with the score line 37 and extends from the score line 25 across the panel to a point which is intermediate of the point of its intersection with the cut 39 and the point of intersection of the score line 31 with the cut 36. From the said intermediate point of termination of the score line 49 there extends a cut 4| parallel to score line 25. The cut 4| merges into a short, angular cut 42 which, in turn, meets and terminates at a cut 43. The cut 43 extends from its intersection with the cut 42 parallel to the score line 24 and ends on the score line 25 at the end of the cut 25 which is away from the intersection of the cut 29 and the score line 3!. A score line 44 extends from the point of intersection of the cut 29 and the score line 3! parallel to the score line 24, crosses the angular cut 42, and terminates at the point of intersection of the angular cut 35 and the cut 36. A curved cut 45 joins the intersection of the cut 36 and the score line 31 with the intersection of the score line 40 and the angular cut 39. A handle aperture 46 is provided in the panel 23, as shown.

The cuts and score lines in the divider panel 23 define a number of separate portions therewithin. The score line 24, the score line 25, the score line 40, the curved cut 45, and the score line 31 define an end panel 41. The score line 31, the cut 36, the cut 35, and the score line 34 define a center panel 48. The score line 34, the cut 35, the score line 44, the cut 42, the cut 43, and the score line 25 define a divider 49. The cut 36, the curved out 45, the score line 49, the cut 4|, the cut 42, and the score line 44 define an attaching member such as a glue area 50. The score line 25, the score line 44, the cut 42, the cut 4!, the score line 40, the cut 39, and the cut 38 define a divider 5|. The cut 26, the cut 43, the cut 42, and the score line 44 define a blue tab 52. The cut 21, the cut 113851151? cut 39, and the score line 40 define a glue Re'ferring nextlto Fig.flywhereimareshown. two

"stages "in the :assemblage :of the .blank into "the been rotated out :of *the iplane of the drawing I aboutanaxis-'determinedlby thescore linesiflaand the cut 13, the rotation taking (place until the above-enumerated panels lie face-fto face with their respective --adj.acent panels. For instance, panel 1 2 lies in (juxtaposition to the Slower bottom panel I I The glue area 50 :is:glued =orotherwise fastenedto the side .panel l 'B. The-carrier is: then in the condition shown in the lower part-of Fig. 2.

=Next, the center panel 548 is "moved away from contact with the side panel i-B at the 'same time the end panel lL' the divider 5l, =andthe-'divider 49 are movedto reside a't right angles to the side panel I 6. At-thesame tim'e, the glue tabs 52 and 53 aremoved to reside at right angles to their respective dividers the dimensions selected are such that, when this is done, the glue tabs reside in-the plane of thecenter panel 48. ln order that these movements may take place, it is necessary that the divider panel 23 and the side panel 16 be rotated at the sametime about 't'hescore lines H and 25, whichlines now lie adjacent-and-coex- *tensive withone another. The above described movements bring about another movement and that -is-the movement of the triangular areas 54 defined by the cuts 23,29, an, the scorelines 3|, 32, and 33 and the scoreline 25. These triangular areas 54 rotate about the score' lines 31, 32, and 33 through 180 degrees until they -liein -faceto-face relation to fixed remaining portion or the panel l-2 from which they originated. The upper portion of Fig. 2 shows the condition of "the carrier when theabove-described movements are partially completed.

After the movements described-above are completed, the end panel 1 8 is rotated about the score line It to a position at a right angle to panel H5 and the center panel is rotated about the score line 2| until "it resides in face-to-face relationship to *the center panel '48 and the glue tabs-t2 andts. The centerpanel A'Band the glue tabs 52 and 5-3 are glued or otherwise fastened to the center panel-2U with the handle apertures -22 and 46 in registry.

The carrier now has the appearanceshown in Fig. 3 in which theportions of the center .panel 21) to which the center panel 48 and the glue tabs 52 and 53 are attached are stipp'led. It only remains to glue the two center panels L2G Ito- 'gether to complete the carrier.

Fig. 4 is a view of the completed 'bottle carrier of the invention looking downwardly into it. The triangular areas .54 are shown particularly well in this-view. .It is clearly shown, also, that the arrangement of the parts and their dimensions is such that the carrier is divided into six equally sized compartments of a size to receive the particular bottle for which the carrier was designed.

Fig. 5, which is a vertical, transverse sectional View of the carrier shows particularly well the shape .of the dividers.

Fig. 6, which .is a vertical, iongitudinal sectional view of the carrier, shows certain :details of construction. Particularly, it shows that the center :panel 48 does not entirely overlay'the centerpanel 2d. Themanner inwhich the triangular areas M serve to provide a triple thickness of paperboard under each bottle is also made evident.

It is to be understood that the above-recited :manner of: assemblingithe :carrierffromthemlank is not necessarily the manner which1would .be used in mass production .of the item; :the above description was given to permit :clearer :under standing of the construction .lOf the invention. The ;usual automatic Jma'chine :will ".produce the carrier in the flat, folded conditionshown more or less schematically in Fig. .7. 'WhenQthe :carrier is to be loaded with bottles, pressure is brought to bearonithe-ends, as'indicatedby the arrows. As the carrier expands into open :posi- :tion it assumes the aspect shown :in Fig. :8, and finally, when completely .expan'ded, appears; as in Fig.9.

The perspective viewao'f. Fig. is very helpful :in gaining an understanding sof the present invention. .pItis particularly to :be :noted that the handle apertures .in .Efour ::thicknesses of paperboard provided abroad h'ardssurfacezthat will-not cause the person holding :the carrierxandbottles discomfort. The manner in which the triangular areas "54 provide a resilient zpodzfor each bottle is clearly illustrated; :it can bexs'een, also, that the weight of the 1301113181011 each :ofrthese triangu- .lar areas serves to retain the carrier Lin-expanded condition. In addition, the triangular areas snap into position andserveito :retain thecontainer in expanded condition even when mo bottles are present. Itrshould :be noted that the dividers are permitted, by lth'e rconstruction-of the invention, to extend vertically .and transversely an ample amount so 381130 aflordproperprotection against the :bottles touching one another.

.It .is to .be'appreciated that the fact that the structure of the present invention is such as to ,permit a side panel I16 which .is unlimited in vertical extent also "means that :the topedge of the side panel could the iurnished'w ith an integral cover for the carrier or with any similar appendage. Also, the triangu'larareas 54, which serve to lock the lcontainer in expanded-condition, "among .other functions, need not be of that particular shape as long -as the "locking" is carried out in the manner described. The "importance of the "fact that the present "inventioni'permits the center panel t'oextend'c'ompletely to the bottom of the carrier and the side panel to "be of unlimited vertical extent cannot be overemp'hasized; in prior art .devices one or the other to! these features had "to be sacrificed .to .permit .the dividers'to be punched "from the panels.

It is obvious that minor changes may .be made in the form and construction of the invention Without .departingffromthe material spirit thereof. It is not, .however, desired to confine the invention to the exact form 1herein:shown and described, but itis desired to include .all'suchias come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus. described, what is claimed :as new :and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A bottle carrier formed from-*a-single blank of paperboard,tcomprising1 a side'pane'l, "acenter panel, a div'iderpanel, a bottom panel, said center panel and said divider panel being fastened together in face-to-iace relation "and normally residing in spaced, parallelrelation to the side panel with the divider panel facing "the side panel, a first divider extending from thew'divider panel to the side paneL'a-glue area hirrgetily attached to the "first "divider and *fastened to .the side panel in face-to-face relation therewith, a second divider hingedly attached to said glue area and extending to the center panel, a glue center panel, the said dividers extending down- Wardly between the panels to the bottom edges thereof, a connecting portion joining each of the dividers to the bottom panel, each connecting portion being hingedly attached to the bottom edge of its respective divider and being hingedly attached to the bottom panel along a line which lies at an acute angle to the line of attachment of the connecting portion to the bottom edge of the divider.

2. A bottle carrier formed from a single blank of paperboard, comprising: a side panel, a center panel, a divider panel, a bottom panel, said center panel and said divider panel being fastened in face-to-face relation and normally residing in spaced, parallel relation to the side panel with the divider panel facing the side panel, a first divider formed from the divider panel and ex tending therefrom to the side panel, a glue area formed from the divider panel hingedly connected to the first divider and fastened in faceto-face relation with the side panel, a second divider formed from the divider panel hingedly connected to the glue area and extending to the center panel, a glue tab attached to the second divider and fastened to the center panel, the said dividers extending downwardly between the panels to the bottom edges thereof, a triangular area formed from the bottom panel and connecting each of the dividers to the bottom panel, each triangular area. being hingedly joined along one side to the bottom edge of its respective divider and being hingedly joined along another of its sides to the bottom panel along a line which lies at an acute angle to the line of connection of the triangular area to the divider.

3. A bottle carrier as recited in claim 2, wherein: the side panel extends above the top edges of the said dividers a considerable distance.

4. A bottle carrier formed from a single blank of paperboard, comprising: a lower bottom panel, a side panel hingedly connected to the bottom panel, a first end panel hingedly connected to an edge of the side panel adjacent the connection with the bottom panel, a center panel hingedly connected to an edge 01'' the first end panel opposite to the connection to the side panel, a second end panel hingedly connected to an edge of the side panel opposite the connection with the first end panel, a divider panel hingedly connected to the second end panel along an edge opposite to the connection thereof to the side panel, an upper bottom panel for overlying the lower bottom panel, a first divider formed from the divider panel and hingedly connected thereto along a line parallel to the connection between the divider panel and the second end panel, a glue area hingedly connected to the first divider along an edge parallel to the connection with the divider panel, a second divider hingedly connected to the glue area along an edge spaced from and parallel to the connection with the first divider, a glue tab hingedly connected to the second divider along an edge spaced from and parallel to the connection with the glue area, connecting portions formed from the upper bottom panel and each hingedly connected to the normally lower edge of a divider, said connecting portions being hingedly connected to the remainder of the upper bottom panel along lines which lie at an acute angle to the connections with the dividers.

5. A bottle carrier formed from a single blank of paperboard, comprising: a rectangular lower bottom panel, a rectangular side panel hingedly connected to the said bottom panel along a side edge thereof, a first rectangular end panel hingedly connected to an edge of the side panel adjacent the connection thereof with the bottom panel, a center panel of approximately the same size and shape as the side panel hingedly connected to the edge of the first end panel opposite the side thereof which is connected to the side panel, a second end panel of approximately the same size and shape as the first end panel hingedly connected to the edge of the side panel opposite the side thereof which is connected to the first end panel, a divider panel hingedly connected to the second end panel along the edge opposite the edge connected to the side panel, an upper bottom panel normally overlying the lower bottom panel, the divider panel and the center panel being fastened together in face-toface relation with the divider panel facing the side panel, a first divider formed from the divider panel and hingedly connected thereto along a line parallel to the connection between the divider panel and the second end panel, a glue area formed from the divider panel and hingedly connected to the first divider along a line parallel to the connection thereof with the divider panel, a second divider hingedly connected to the glue area along a line parallel to the connection thereof with the first divider, a glue tab hingedly connected to the second divider along a line parallel to the connection thereof with the glue area, said glue tab being fastened in face-to-face relation to the said center panel, a triangular area formed from the upper bottom panel and connecting each of the dividers thereto, each triangular area being hingedly joined along one side to the bottom edge of its respective divider and being hingedly joined along another of its sides to the remainder of the said upper bottom panel. 6. A bottle carrier formed from a single blank of paperboard, comprising: a side panel, a center panel, a divider panel, a bottom panel, said center panel and said divider panel being fastened together in face-to-face relation and normally residing in spaced, parallel relation to the side panel with the divider panel facing the side panel, a divider extending from the divider panel to the side panel, an area hingedly attached to the first divider and fastened to the side panel in face-to-face relation therewith, the said divider extending downwardly between the panels to the bottom edges thereof, a connecting portion being hingedly attached to the bottom edge of the divider and being hingedly attached to the bottom panel along a line which lies at an acute angle to the line of attachment of the connecting portion to the bottom edge Of the divider.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 466,723 Lorenz Jan. 5, 1892 2,222,211 Arneson e- Nov. 19, 1940 2,384,480 Lupton Sept. 11, 1945 2,525,686 Kowal Oct. 10, 1950 2,535,741 Lighter Dec. 26, 1950 2,584,658 Arneson Feb. 5, 1952 

